More than 60 new homes could be built on station car parks under plans drawn up by Redbridge council.

The local authority’s local plan states car parks at Wanstead and Snaresbrook stations are both “development opportunity” sites for housing.

The plan suggests Snaresbrook station car park would have the capacity for 44 new homes, while Wanstead station could provide a site for 18 properties.

South Woodford station car park is also mooted in the local plan as a possible area to redevelop for commercial usage.

The proposals have been criticised by Cllr Paul Canal, leader of Redbridge council’s Conservative group, who claimed the Labour-led council were: “sacrificing car parks on the altar of shanty towns.”

Cllr Canal said: “Labour’s housing plans are not thought through. They are determined to concrete over and build tower blocks in every tower block of the borough.

“Residents will not put up with it. Some people are unable to walk that far and have other pressures with taking kids to school. The car parks play an important role in getting them to and from work.

“It is an important service. We don’t have a tube station every hundred yards, they’re around half a mile apart here.

“Car parks are a key local amenity and shouldn’t be sacrificed on the altar of shanty towns. Labour are determined to concrete over and build tower blocks in every part of the borough.”

Wanstead’s station car park has 19 bays for cars, while Snaresbrook station is home to 99.

Close to three million journeys were either started or ended at Wanstead station in 2015, while more than two and a half million were made from Snaresbrook.

A 2010 study by London Underground highlighted Snaresbrook as one of the six stations on its network where parking most affects nearby residents.

The report also found a third of commuters who drive to the station would park on surrounding roads if spaces were not available at the car park.

A Redbridge council spokesman said: “The allocation of these sites has been included in a set of proposed modifications to the Local Plan, which will be examined by an Independent Planning Inspector later this year.

“Should the Inspector agree to the sites allocation, the proposed use includes retention of commuter parking at each station.

“Detailed proposals on each site will be subject to a future planning application and public consultation.”

Proposals come as the council prepares to consult the public on plans to introduce pay and display parking in Wanstead High Street and permit parking in surrounding roads.

Despite plans to roll the scheme out in February without a consultation, the local authority was forced to make a U-turn at the beginning of the year following outcry from residents.